A Paper Lens

Here's where the soldier burns his chains
rewriting every loss--
a frame of mind,
he focuses on fusion
igniting life to flare up fear
around whatever else there is to burn.

In the trenches fear was the little death
we died ten thousand times before washing
in total obliteration--
this lentic strange wave sea change grows tidal,
furious when the inner eye is blind.

The nightvision scope reveals hurricane
after swirling storm after august tempest...
He is enchained by the hum of the
bomb as it devours him and free.

Is everyone then the Other
just waiting for America
to say they know how things are
and make them to be true?